Sessions loses to newcomer Tuberville
Hegar leads in race to face Cornyn in the fall
WASHINGTON – On a night of elections across several states, it was a runoff election that took center stage. Political newcomer and former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville beat out Jeff Sessions in the Alabama Senate Republican primary runoff Tuesday for Sessions old Senate seat. Tuberville’s win showcases President Donald Trump’s influence on down ballot races for Republicans. Ahead of the primary, Trump endorsed Tuberville and repeatedly bashed Sessions, calling him a “disaster” and saying he “made a mistake” by appointing Sessions as attorney general. The feud between Sessions and Trump began in spring 2017 after Sessions recused himself from overseeing the Justice Department’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. His recusal led to Robert Mueller being appointed special counsel and a nearly two-year probe that clouded Trump’s first years in office. Tuberville barely topped Sessions in the primary in March, 33.4% to 31.6%. A candidate would have needed 50% of the primary vote to avoid a runoff. Shortly after Tuberville was named the projected winner Tuesday night, Trump tweeted his praise. “Tommy Tuberville WON big against Jeff Sessions,” Trump wrote in a tweet. “Will be a GREAT Senator for the incredible people of Alabama.” Tuberville will face Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in November. Here are other takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries:
MJ Hegar leading in race to take on Sen. John Cornyn in November
M.J. Hegar, an Air Force veteran who earned a Purple Heart, is leading state lawmaker Royce West in the Texas Democratic Senate runoff. The winner will go on to face Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Hegar was the favorite for Tuesday’s runoff after she led the primary in March with 22% of the vote while West earned about 15% of the vote. Partial early voting and mail ballot results showed Hegar with a slight lead over West before in-person results began coming in Tuesday evening.
Sara Gideon to face Sen. Susan Collins
Maine Speaker of the House Sara Gideon will face off against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, considered by many to be one of the most endangered senators, in November. Gideon was seen as the front-runner headed into Tuesday’s primary, as she outraised other challengers and has led in polling against Collins in a head-to-head matchup. Gideon defeated two more liberal candidates, lawyer Bre Kidman and activist Betsy Sweet. Collins’ seat is considered a toss-up, according to the Cook Political Report.
Former White House doctor Ronny Jackson wins runoff
Ronny Jackson, a former Navy admiral and Trump’s onetime nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, won the Republican primary runoff against lobbyist Josh Winegarner for the seat belonging to Rep. Mac Thornberry, who is retiring. Jackson was endorsed by Trump and led in fundraising over Winegarner, who was Thornberry’s handpicked candidate to succeed him. Jackson will go up against Democrat Gus Trujillo in the traditionally Republican 13th Congressional District race in November.